Handle for boxes



p 1949. w. G. BULLOCK 2,482,399

HANDLE FOR BOXES Filed July 28, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l v Sept. 20, 1949. w. s. BULLOCK HANDLE FOR BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1948 INVENTOR. MAW/W56. filil 11mm B I J 6/ mm% m Patented Sept. 20, 1949 HANDLE FOB. BOXES Wayne G. Bullock, Tacoma, Wash, assignor to Eagle Paper Box Com corporation of Washin pany, Tacoma, Wash., a gton Application July 28, 1948, Serial No. 41,152

This invention relates broadly to boxes and like containers and, more-particularly, to carrying means therefor. In this application the invention is disclosed as a carrying handle for a folding suit box of the Well-known type comprising two similar telescoping parts, but it will be understood that the invention is useful in connection with boxes and containers of all types.

It has heretofore been proposed, and is now well-known, to-provide handle means of various types for carrying boxes. One type of such handles is normally detached from the box and is attached thereto for carrying purposes; a second type is normally integral with the box at only one end of the handle, the other end being adapted to be attached to the box for carrying purposes; and a third type is integral with the box at both ends. Handles of the third type have many advantages over those of theother types, among these being the advantage that they are always in place and do not require connection to the box when they are to be used. However, known handles of this type sufier very serious disadvantages resulting from the fact that in all known constructions the handle is defined only by two parallel cuts. In order to raise such a handle to carrying position above the plane of the box part to which it is attached the box itself must be deformed and must be kept in a deformed state so long as the handle is raised. This is not only unsightly but tends to disturb the goods which are Within the box. This deformation of the box also constantly urges the handle toward its normal position within the plane of the part from which it is formed, thus uncomfortably pressing on the fingers of the person carrying the box.

This invention has to do with handles of this third type and has provided a handle which is preferably integrally connected to the box at both ends and has the advantages of such construction but which, in addition, incorporates means whereby the handle may be raised to operative, carrying position above the plane of the, box part from which it is formed without deforming the box, thus doing away with. all of the disadvantages of known constructions.

A number of embodiments of my invention are disclosed in the following specification and the accompanying drawing, and it will be understood that these embodiments are only illustrative of many possible embodiments of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, t 7 I Fig. 1 is a perspective view of fragments of 6 Claims. (01. 22952) the two parts of a suit box of usual type, showing the handle means of the present invention in normal, inoperative positions;

Fig. 2 shows the same box parts in closed position and the handle in raised, carrying position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the bandle in raised, carrying position, illustrating clearly the action of the parts in permitting the handle to move freely to such position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a box part, showing one end of a handle which may be a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the handle of Fig. 4 in raised, operative position;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a box part, showing one end of a handle which may be a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6 showing the handle in raised, operative position, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective View showing the handle of Fig. 6 in raised, operative position.

By this invention I have provided a box handle, central, hand-engaging part of which is defined by preferably parallel cuts in the box material and at least one end (and preferably both ends) of which is connected to the box part from which the handle is formed by one or more strips, each of which extends generally in the same direction as the handle and each of which is integrally connected at one of its ends to the handle and at its other end to the box part, the box part-connected end of the strip being spaced from the handle-connected end thereof in the direction of the midpoint of the handle. When the handle is raised at its center, for carrying purposes, these strips will lift out of'the plane of the box part, pivoting about their integral connections to the box part, and the ends of the handle will therefore be disposed above the plane of the box part and will support the box solely through the strips. In Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the strips at each end'of the handle are parallel to the handle. In these figures the invention is disclosed in association with a suit box of wellknown type comprising the lower part land up per part, or cover 4 which parts may, if desired, be separately formed or made from a single piece of cardboard and moved to open and closed positions about a hinge connection. The bottom part 2 comprises end walls and a back wall (none of which are shown), a bottom 6, and a front wall 8, while the upper box part 4 comprises end walls and a back wall (none of which are shown), a

top 10 and a front Wall 12. These parts are of such size that the cover 4 may be telescoped over the bottom 2 to close the box, being shown in this condition in Fig. 2. Various means, which are well known in the art and form no part of this invention and are therefore not shown, may be provided to hold the sides of the box parts in proper position and relation, to attach the upper and lower box parts in closed position, and to provide other desirable functions.

The invention provides a handle device by which the box may be carried, and this handle device comprises a handle part which is formed by cutting the front wall 8 of the inner box part 2 along preferably parallel lines Hi, It to provide therebetween the elongated handle part It which is integrally connected at its ends to the box part in a manner to be particularly described hereinafter and which comprises the principal feature of my invention. Openings 2%, 22 may be formed in the front wall 8 adjacent the midpoint of the handle in order to facilitate the lifting of the handle. The front wall l2 of the upper part 4 of the box is provided with a rectangular aperture 30 which is preferably slightly shorter and wider than the handle part l8 and is so positioned that when the box parts 2, t are telescoped into closed position, the aperture will overlie the handle part whereby the handle may be raised through the aperture, all as shown in Fig. 2 of of the drawing. The aperture 30 is preferably formed by a U-shaped cut, leaving a flap 32 extending from the uncut long wall of the aperture into the aperture, this flap being preferably shorter and narrower than the aperture. When the box parts are in closed position and the handle raised through the aperture the flap 32 lies under the handle, closing the aperture through the front wall 8 which is formed when the handle is raised, all as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In accordance with my invention the ends of the handle 18 are connected to the box part 8 by strips which are disposed on opposite sides of the handle, each strip being integrally connected at its ends to the handle it and box part 8 respectively and extending parallel to the length of handle 18 in a direction toward the midpoint of the handle. These strips are formed by providing at each end of the handle a U-shaped cut 60 which may be arcuate in shape, three-sided as shown in the drawing, or otherwise suitably shaped to provide the requisite shape and disposition of the strips. The base a of each cut 40 is spaced outwardly from the adjacent ends of the side cuts [4, Hi; the side I) of each cut 40 are spaced laterally outwardly from the side cuts; and such sides I) extend beyond the ends of the side cuts in the direction of the midpoint of the handle.

Each cut 40 surrounds an end of the handle part l8 and provides two strips 44 which lie on either side of the end extremity of the handle part between the parts I) of the end cut and the spaced, adjacent extremities of the side cuts l4, 56. Each strip is integrally connected to the handle at its one end 01 and to the box part at its other end 0. When the handle part 18 is raised out of the plane of the box part 8, each strip flexes about its integral connection to the box part 8 and its integral connection cl to the handle. These integral connecting parts 0, (1 extend generally transversely to the length of the handle, as clear y sh wn in F 3, thus permitting the ends of the handle to move toward the midpoint of the handle and to ris freely a ove the 4 plane of box part 8. Thus, the raising of the handle to carrying position is accomplished without deformation of the box, this being caused by movement of the strips 44 which permits the ends of the handle to freely move out of the plane of the box part.

In a second form which the invention may take the strips which connect the handle to the box part are angularly related to the length of the handle and. extend outwardly therefrom and toward the midpoint of the handle. An embodimerit of this form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 4. and 5 of the drawings and comprises the box part I00 from which the body m2 of the handle is formed of preferably parallel cuts H24, H36. A transverse cut I08 in the box part is spaced outwardly from the ends of the side cuts I04, I66 and is approximately co-extensive with the width of the handle. From the ends of cut 188 cuts H0, H2 extend outwardly and in the gen ral direct on of the midpoint of the'handle, forming cute angles with the side cuts I04, 166. Guts I I4. I 15 extend from the ends of side cuts 1 4. I96 and are respectiv ly parall l to cuts H0, H Strips H8. 20 are f med between cuts H 4 d between cuts H2, H6 and each in egrall nn ct d at its one nd to the ou er extremity of h dl 2 and a ts other end to the box part H10. The positions of the p rts when t e h ndle is aised are shown in Fig. 5 and. in view of the for g ing description of the m d o op at on of t e i ve tion, no further de crip on of the use nd. opera ion of his o m o he invention is belie ed to be necessary.

If desire the uts H4, H5 ay e iminat witho t departin fromthe invention or doing away wit the new nd u eful r s lts t ereof- If this modificationis made the handle-attaching strips will be triangular in shape and will be com nected to the handle along line a; and to the box par along line y, as shown in Fig. 4.-

In a hird form which the invention may take the handle may have and extensions of ngul r or arcuate configuration to which the attaching strips are connected. An embodiment of this form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, which the handle 260 is formed by preferably parallel cuts 202, 204 which, at the end of the handle proper, are extended nsularly outwardly and away from the midpoint of he handle, as at 206, then inwardly and away from such midpoint, as at 208, and then parallel to the side cuts 202,, 204 and toward such mid- P int, as at 2H1. A transverse cut 212 is formed approximately midway between th inner ends of parallel cuts 2 I 0 and the outer ends of handle cuts 262, 204 and, at its opposite ends, is continued to form short cuts 2! whi h are parallel to cuts 206. The described cuts form at the two sides of the handle two angular extensions each of which has a Part 220 extending angularly outwa d y from the handle in a direction away from the midpoint thereof, and a part 222 which extends angularly inwardly and away from such midpoint. The part 220 of each ex sion is de fined by cuts 206 and 2M, while the part 222 of each ip is defined by cuts 208 and 210. Each part 222 is connected to the box part by a strip 230 which at one end 9 is integral with the handle part 222 and at its other end h is integral with the boX p rt. The connections 71. to the box part a e spa ed from the handle connections 9 in the direction of the midpoint of the handle. When the handle 200 is raised to operative position, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 each strip 230 will bend about connectionsg and h, permitting raising of the associated end of the handle, while the upward deformation of the part 232 which lies between cuts 2"], as shown in Fig. 7, permits further raising of the handle. It is not believed that further description of the operation of this form of the invention is necessary.

In all forms of the invention the front wall 8 of the lower box part 2 may be of multiple thickness, in which case the handle part and the connecting strips will also be of multiple thickness, thereby increasing the strength of the handle itself and of the parts which connect it to the box. It will also be apparent that the described handle structure may be utilized in connection with a box of any type, or with any other container or other device whatsoever which must be carried. It is important to note that my invention is useful in the connection of any handle to a box part, regardless of whether one or both ends of the handle are connected to the box part by the means of my invention.

While I have disclosed a number of forms which my invention may take, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other forms, as well as modifications of those disclosed, may be made and practiced without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the invention, for the limits of which reference must be had to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A handle formed from a box part comprising a hand-engaging part defined by spaced, generally parallel and co-extensive side cuts in the box part and by a cut extending transversely of the side cuts and spaced from the ends thereof, and means connecting an end of the handle to the wall to permit the end to be raised out of the plane of the wall when the box is lifted by the handle, said means comprising a strip at each side of the handle integrally connected thereto at one end by the material between the end of a side cut and the adjacent end of the transverse cut and being integrally connected to the wall by a part which is spaced from the connection of the strip to the handle in the direction of the midpoint of the handle.

2. A handle formed from a box part, comprising a handle defined by spaced side cuts in the box part, and by an end cut extending transversely of the side cuts and spaced outwardly of the ends thereof, and a strip at each side of the handle defined by spaced cuts extending from the end of one of the side cuts and an end of the transverse cut, each of said strips extending generally toward the midpoint of the handle and being integrally connected to the wall at its end remote from the end attached to the handle.

3. A handle formed from a box part, comprising a hand-engaging part defined by elongated spaced substantially co-extensive side cuts in the box part and by an end cut at at least one end of the handle having a part extending transversely of the side cuts and spaced outwardly from the ends thereof and parts extending in opposite directions from the ends of the transverse cut in the eneral direction of the handle and lying respectively at an acute angle to the adjacent side cut and terminating outwardly therefrom, leaving strips between said angularly-extending parts and the ends of the side cuts which attach the handle to the box part.

4. A handle formed from a box part, comprising a hand-engaging part defined by elongated spaced substantially co-extensive side cuts in the box part and cuts extending respectively from the ends of the side cuts at at least one end of the handle and lying at acute angles thereto and extending in the general direction of the midpoint of the handle and by an end cut having a part extending transversely of the side cuts and spaced outwardly from the ends thereof and having parts extending in opposite directions from the ends thereof which are respectively parallel to and spaced outwardly from the cuts extending angularly from the ends of the side cuts and defining therewith strips which attach the handle to the box part.

5. A handle construction for a box having overlying inner and outer walls, comprising a handle part formed from the inner Wall by elongated parallel side cuts therein and by a U-shaped cut at each of its ends which is spaced outwardly from the side cuts and surrounds the ends thereof and the sides of which extend beyond the ends of the side cuts toward the mid-point of the handle part, the outer wall of the box having an elongated aperture formed therein which is of such size and position thatit overlies the handle part when the inner and outer walls are in overlying position whereby the handle part may be moved through said aperture to a position outside the outer wall to be grasped by the hand.

6. A handle construction according to claim 5, comprising in addition a flap extending into the aperture from one longitudinal edge thereof and adapted to underlie the handle when the same extends through the aperture to a position outside the outer wall.

WAYNE G. BULLOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,171,228 Misroch et al. Feb. 8,1916 1,268,318 Brown June 4, 1918 1,731,414 Grosman Oct. 15, 1929 2,365,887 Lind Dec. 26, 1944 

